The Perfect MixUP

Maya Kapoor practically skipped into her new apartment building, bubbling with energy at every step. Her bright smile stretched from ear to ear, lighting up her face like the morning sun. At her feet sat a box with bold red letters declaring, “Just Moved In!” The sight of it made her heart swell with pride. Finally, a place of her own!

Four years ago, when Maya had first arrived in this city, she was nervous. However, even though everything felt overwhelming, the city’s life seemed full of promise. And when she met Virat, all her anxiousness sublimed into vapour. His name carried the charm of a famous cricketer, and, much like his namesake, he shone in the company matches too. His wit, charisma, and effortless confidence drew her in, and within two months of joining the company, she had fallen head over heels for him.

Things worked out just perfectly between them and they started dating. Anticipating the start of a beautiful chapter in her life, she moved in with him after being together for some six months. The decision seemed just right then.

However life, as she learned, didn’t unfold like a fairytale. That impulsive decision came at a cost. Within another six months of their relationship everything fell apart for no reason. Virat left her with bittersweet memories and an aching emptiness in the home they once shared.

After months of therapy and facing her depression head-on, Maya had made a choice—to start over. A new apartment, a new office, and a new life. This fresh start had reignited her energy, and standing in her new home, she vowed to live life on her terms.

Independent. Confident. Grand.

As she unpacked a box, she came across a stack of takeout menus the building guard had handed her earlier. Among the pile, one caught her eye—a glossy flyer showcasing a steaming plate of Chicken Tikka Masala. Her stomach grumbled in approval. “Perfect for my first celebratory dinner!” she thought, her eyes lighting up at the prospect of a warm, comforting meal. Without delay, she dialled the number and placed her order.

Some thirty minutes later, she heard footsteps echoing in the hallway, followed by the ring of the doorbell. A grin spread across her face. “Dinner has arrived!”

She rushed to grab her takeout. The building guard handed her a neatly packed parcel with a pleasant smile and left.

A few minutes later, when she settled down to eat, she unpacked the takeout, her excitement faded into confusion. Instead of the highly anticipated Chicken Tikka Masala, there lay staring at her a box with an unappetizing burger having a chicken patty.

Disappointment washed over her.

Frowning, she picked up her phone and called the restaurant to confirm the order. Her voice wavered between frustration and disbelief as she explained the mix-up, but the restaurant denied any mistake, insisting they had delivered the correct package to the building guard. Maya sighed heavily.

Unwilling to ruin her celebratory dinner with a burger she headed to meet the apartment front desk with the takeout in hand. “Uh, excuse me, Kaka,” she said to the security guard, her voice tinged with hope. “I think you might have given me the wrong order.”

Kaka looked up from his seat and chuckled warmly, his kind eyes crinkling. “Delivery mix-up, beta? Happens all the time. Don’t worry, I’ll check for you.” His reassuring smile eased some of Maya’s frustration.

Just as Kaka began to rise, a man walked by, holding a similar takeout as her. He stopped and walked up to the front desk. “Hey,” he called out, his voice light and friendly. “Looks like there’s been a little mix-up.” He held up the box he was carrying with a sheepish grin. “Your Chicken Tikka Masala, right? I think it got swapped with my burger.”

Maya’s eyes lit up and relief washed over her like a wave. “Yes, that’s mine!” she exclaimed, her lips breaking into a grateful smile as she took the box with both hands as though it were a priceless treasure. “Oh, thank you so much!”

The man picked up the takeout Maya had placed on the guard’s desk and they both quickly checked the content. Confirming that it was indeed what they had ordered, they looked up at each other with a smile and parted ways.

Maya rummaged through her box and pulled out a small box of Gulab Jamuns, her go-to treat for sweet cravings. Offering it to the security guard with an apologetic smile, she said, “I’m so sorry, Kaka! Bahut bhuk lagi thi, isliye thodi pareshan ho gayi. (I was really hungry, that’s why I got a little frustrated.)”

Kaka’s face lit up with an even wider smile. “Koi baat nahi, beta! (It’s all right, dear!) Thank you for this,” he added, accepting the box with a grateful nod.

Bidding goodbye to the guard, Maya walked towards the elevator. The burger-man had not yet left and was still waiting for the lift to arrive. Just then the elevator doors opened and they both walked in.

“Which floor?” He asked after pressing  number eleven on the lift console.

“Ten please,” Maya replied. As they slowly ascended up, she said, “I am Maya, just moved in.”

“I’m Arjun,” he said with a warm smile. “Maybe these mix-ups aren’t so bad after all,” he commented with an easy grin.

Just then the elevator stopped at the tenth floor and Maya faced Arjun. “That’s me! See you later!”

“See you later,” Arjun smiled back with a nod and Maya walked out.

Back in her apartment, Maya finally settled down to enjoy her meal. She toasted two slices of bread, paired them with the rich Chicken Tikka Masala, and ate to her heart’s content. The flavours felt like a reward after the day’s chaos. More than satisfied, she packed the leftovers and stuffed them into the fridge for the next day.

While she was tidying up, her phone buzzed. The familiar ringtone made her pause mid-step and she rushed to answer the call. “I was waiting for your call!” she answered as she slumped down onto the sofa, and relaxed.

“So, all set with your new home?” The warm, familiar voice on the other end belonged to Aradhana, her therapist and her best friend.

“Yes!” Maya remarked, her voice carrying a mix of satisfaction and a tiny bit of uncertainty. “But… I’m still not sure how to get some sleep tonight.”

“Hmm… how about the music I recommended?” the woman suggested gently.

Maya smiled, comforted by the sound advice. “Oh yes, I’ll try it today,” she replied, already feeling a little lighter.

When Virat had left her, Maya never imagined she would need a therapist. Alone in the city, her only friends were work colleagues who, unfortunately, seemed more loyal to Virat than to her.

“Thanks, Aru, for everything,” Maya said, her voice soft yet filled with sincerity. “It’s strange, isn’t it? You’re my therapist, but now you’re my saviour and my best friend.”

Aradhana chuckled gently on the other end of the line. “Maya, I could say the same about you. Do you remember the first time you came to my clinic? It was empty—no one in the queue! You could have walked away like so many others to someone with a bigger name, but you came in, sceptical yet brave, and shared your story with me.”

Aradhana continued, her voice tinged with emotion. “That’s when I decided, even if it took me a lifetime to help you heal, I would do it. And here you are already set to rock your new life.”

Maya laughed, though her heart felt warm at Aradhana’s words. “Sometimes I panic a little at your praises. I might start thinking too highly of myself and end up having a big blow when someone reminds me of the reality.”

“If anyone dares to demean you, shout back and remind them who you are!” Aradhana said firmly. “You’ve worked so hard to respect yourself again. Don’t let anyone take that away.”

Maya’s voice softened. “I’ll remember, Aradhana. Take care.”

“You too, Maya. Take care,” Aradhana replied before the call ended.

As Maya set her phone down, Aradhana’s words lingered in her mind: Unmet needs and the wrong company—that’s all it takes to land in depression.

The word unmet echoed in her thoughts as she sighed, laying down on her bed. She put on her headphones and started the therapeutic music her friend had recommended, hoping it would bring her some rest.

An hour later, her sleep turned restless. In her dream, she was back in school showing her write-up to her teacher, who pointed out her errors and laughed in front of the entire class, during an essay competition. She had gathered courage to walk to her teacher for some validation and all she got was a humiliation. That moment had been a devastating blow to her self-esteem. Even though she had built a career in content writing, she still doubted her competency, feeling her work lacked the brilliance it needed to win recognition.

Maya jolted awake, her body drenched in sweat. She wiped her face and let out a shaky breath. Closing her eyes tightly, she whispered to herself, “It’s just a dream,” before attempting to fall back asleep.